It is neither a documentary nor a prophecy, but after Pope Francis died, this movie keeps being watched.
After the news that Pope Francis died, the movie Conclave became trending again for its portrayal of power within the Vatican. What it is about and why it was nominated for an Oscar.
Pope Francis has died and this fictional movie anticipated the debate that the Church is now experiencing
Since it was announced that Pope Francis has died, a particular title began to multiply on social media and streaming platforms. It is Conclave, the film that premiered when the Argentine pontiff was already in a delicate state of health and which has now taken on a new dimension. Although it is a work of fiction, many viewers consider it a symbolic way to anticipate the dilemmas faced by the Vatican with the opening of the papal succession process.
The film, directed by Edward Berger and based on the eponymous novel by Robert Harris, received eight Oscar nominations and won the statuette for Best Adapted Screenplay. Since its release, it has stood out for its ability to dramatize the complex internal mechanisms of the Catholic Church, centered around a millennia-old ritual: the election of the new pope.
Conclave: Between Reality and Fiction: What the Film Reveals
Conclave takes as its starting point the death of a charismatic and progressive Supreme Pontiff, a figure with multiple parallels to Francis. In this context, the conclave is convened, the closed-door meeting of the College of Cardinals, to designate his successor. From there, the story explores not only the liturgical procedures but also the power struggles and ideological tensions that coexist within the Vatican.
The narrative revolves around Thomas Lawrence, played by Ralph Fiennes, the cardinal dean responsible for guiding the voting process. The character faces not only institutional pressure but also his own existential doubts, at a moment when his faith wavers. This intimate perspective allows the viewer to enter a space usually reserved for the opacity of ecclesiastical power.
A Divided Church: Progressives, Conservatives, and an Uncertain Election
The screenplay by Peter Straughan presents a symbolic board, where each "papable" cardinal represents an internal current of the Church. Aldo Bellini (Stanley Tucci) embodies the reformist wing, interested in continuing the opening legacy of the deceased pope. On the opposite side, Goffredo Tedesco, an Italian cardinal with an ultra-conservative stance, proposes to harden the doctrine in a world he perceives as immersed in a "holy war."
Other candidates also appear, responding more to geopolitical than spiritual interests, an implicit critique of how national agendas influence an institution supposedly universal. But the film's surprise comes with the appearance of Vincent Benítez (Carlos Diehz), a cardinal secretly appointed by the previous pope, with a history of commitment to the most vulnerable sectors. His presence alters all projections and raises an uncomfortable question: who really decides the fate of the Vatican?
A Fiction with Resonance in the Present
The film became a global trend not only due to the temporal coincidence with the death of Francis, but also because its plot opens the debate on the major challenges facing the Catholic Church today. Among them, the conflict between renewal and tradition, the impact of the migration crisis on ecclesial discourse, and the tension between popular bases and the clergy elites stand out.
The film Conclave went viral for a reason that neither its creators expected
Beyond the solemn rituals, Conclave starkly shows the political calculations and internal struggles that often guide the election of the Bishop of Rome. The film does not fall into caricature, but it does not idealize either. On the contrary, it presents a human portrait, full of contradictions and moral dilemmas, that invites reflection on the true spirit that should guide those who have the power to decide the spiritual direction of millions of people.
A Premiere Marked by Papal Uncertainty
Conclave premiered when the health of the Argentine pope was already a cause for concern. Therefore, it is not surprising that today, after the official confirmation that Pope Francis has died, many see in this film an opportunity to understand —even if through fiction— the symbolic and political weight involved in choosing a new pontiff.
As the world watches closely what happens within the walls of the Vatican, the film acts as a dramatized guide to understanding the gestures, silences, and strategies that could mark the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the Church. A chapter that, like on screen, is filled with uncertainty, internal tensions, and a key question: continuity or rupture?